The incident took place around 2.30 and 3 am in Bharatwada village, adjoining the Gorewada forests, 15 km from Nagpur. There is panic in Pitesur, Mahurzari, Fetri, Bodhala, Chicholi, Dhaba and Gorewada villages surrounding the forests.
Goats owned by Narayan Shelke were tied in an open shed in his house. This is for the first time in two years that a carnivore has struck in a big way.
"Two years ago, a leopard had killed a dog in the farm of Shankar Baisare, adjoining Shelke's house," said Nanaji More, sarpanch of Bharatwada.
"We never observed any signs nor the presence of a carnivore since then. It looks to be the handiwork of a leopard. The presnce of small pugmarks indicate that the animal may not be alone," he added.
D S Tekade, range forest officer (RFO), Seminary Hills, who reached the spot to perform a panchnama, says it must be the handiwork of a leopard. The leopard must have attacked one goat while the other three goats must have died due to shock.
However, a vet from Mahurzari village told forest officials that all the killed goats have nail marks on their necks. "It may be a leopard or a tiger. Two goats were pregnant and were to deliver in a day or two," said Balu Shelke, quoting the veterinary doctor from Mahurzari, who had come to the site.
"It was a very cold Sunday and we were in deep slumber when the leopard came. It may have entered the shed from the adjoining farm of Shakil Babu. A pair of bullocks ran helter-skelter for a while indicating the presence of a carnivore," said Shelke. "Of the 13 goats, four have been killed. I am left with 9 goats now," he added.
As Shelke's house is at an isolated place outside the village, people did not respond to the attack. Before the Shelkes could come out, the leopard had sucked the blood of the goats and dragged one of them for at least 50 feet. It also ate a portion of the goat. However, after Shelkes woke up, the leopard escaped.
"Cattle and goats are being frequently attacked near villages surrounding Gorewada. Many of these cases go unnoticed as there is no evidence of lifted animals. Only cases reported to the forest officials are registered," said Mahurzari sarpanch Sanjay Kunte.
What Kunte says is true as in the forest department records, only two cases of attack on animals have been registered in the last two years. On October 12, 2009, two calves of Krishna Khobragade were killed and now the four goats.
Motiram Patil of Bharatwada claimed his goat was killed in the forest five days ago. "I did not register a complaint," Patil said. Similar voices were heard from villagers in other villages as well.
Shyamdeo Raut, a former Nagpur Zilla Parishad chief, wanted the forest department to conduct a survey of carnivores in the area so that people can remain alert. "Villagers having no knowledge of wildlife laws may poison the leopard to take revenge," he feared.
Raut and others also found small pugmarks in a nullah adjoining the spot where the goats were killed. "We believe it is the job of more than two carnivores," said
0 comments:
Post a Comment